Tubular Bind Off for 1x1 Ribbing
The tubular bind off is the bind-off twin of the tubular cast on. It produces a rounded, hollow edge that flows seamlessly out of 1x1 ribbing and is the standard finish on luxury commercial knitwear.
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Setup
Work two setup rows: row 1 (RS): k1, slip 1 purlwise wyif; row 2 (WS): slip 1 purlwise wyib, p1. The setup rows separate the knit and purl columns into two parallel layers.
Method
Cut a tail of yarn 3× the bind-off width and thread onto a tapestry needle. Graft the knit and purl stitches together using Kitchener stitch — knit stitches to knit stitches, purl stitches to purl stitches. The result is a perfectly invisible, infinitely stretchy edge.
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What it looks like
A perfectly smooth, rounded tube that flows out of the ribbing without a visible bind-off. From a metre away the bind-off line is invisible.
Limitations
Only works for 1x1 ribbing. For 2x2 ribbing, use the 2x2 tubular variant. Slow — allow 30–60 minutes for the average sock cuff or sweater hem.
Abbreviation reference
| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| BO | bind off |
| sl | slip purlwise |
| wyif | with yarn in front |
| wyib | with yarn in back |
Tips
- Practice the setup rows on a swatch first — getting the slipped stitches in the right direction is critical.
- Cut a tail at least 4× the bind-off width to leave room for error.
- Block ribbing aggressively after binding off — the rounded edge needs to set into shape.
In depth
The tubular bind off uses Kitchener stitch to graft the knit columns of 1x1 ribbing to the purl columns, separated by setup rows that create a hollow tube structure. This is why the resulting edge is rounded rather than flat — the bind-off line is literally hidden inside a tube.